Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is scheduled to deliver the traditional “kontra-SONA” on Tuesday, a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presents his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27.
The minority counter-address serves as a long-standing parliamentary tradition allowing opposition lawmakers to offer an alternative assessment of the nation’s condition.
During a social media livestream, Cayetano invited the public to submit issues they wish to see addressed in his speech.
Reassuring his focus on national unity over partisan division, Cayetano suggested reframing SONA into “SANA,” defining it as “stewarding a national agenda.”
Meanwhile, Senate President Win Gatchalian expressed expectations that President Marcos will address high living costs and sluggish economic growth.
Speaking in a radio interview, Gatchalian pointed to reduced infrastructure spending—triggered by controversies surrounding flood control projects—as a driver of the economic slowdown.
Reflecting on last year’s presidential warning against corrupt contractors and lawmakers, Gatchalian highlighted recent progress in prosecuting those involved in public works corruption.
“What’s important is that it won’t happen again. That is where I’m concerned. When the people forget, it will repeat. So, reforms and processes in the system are important,” Gatchalian said.
In a separate statement on Sunday, consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines urged Malacañang to prioritize the long-delayed Site Blocking bill.
Co-convenor and former lawmaker Kit Belmonte emphasized that the legislation is crucial to protecting consumers, safeguarding intellectual property, and bolstering the digital economy.
The proposed mechanism relies on the Shared Blocking Management Database, allowing regulatory bodies to partner with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the National Telecommunications Commission to restrict illegal online platforms.
“Government agencies have shown they can work together to curb illegal online gambling, financial scams, fake medicines, online child exploitation and other digital threats through a coordinated, rules-based mechanism,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte noted that while the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has stepped up enforcement, it still lacks explicit legal backing to mandate site blocking.
He added that passing the bill supports the administration’s goals for digital transformation, innovation, and creative industry growth—particularly amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.